Ipswich Town Reserves (Home) 15.11.2004

Right from the off, Spurs put pressure on the ball and knocked it around comfortably.  When Yeates knocked the ball out to Slabber on the left wing and his cross came in you could sense danger for the Ipswich defence.  The ball was headed out, but only to Eddie Silva Sousa, who is on a hot streak at the moment.  His neat finish saw him bury a third minute effort delicately into the top left hand corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

Mauricio Taricco was the oldest Spurs player on the pitch and was captain for the night against his old team.  While, he showed how effective he can be at times, he also showed some slackness when in possession and it might not have impressed the watching Martin Jol, even though he got to play in both full back positions because of injury to O’Donoghue.

Spurs were looking for the killer pass every time and the ball inside the Ipswich left back was a popular one and one that would have paid off had the assistant referee not been a bit too trigger happy with his offside flagging.  However, the ploy did pay off in the 24th minute, as Slabber’s ball beat the defender and Barcham hit a low ball into the six yard box.  As Mitchell tried to stop the ball going in, his clearance was blacked by Slabber, who forced the ball into the net to double Tottenham’s lead.

Ipswich tried to stage a recovery, but found Tottenham’s defence solid.  McKie played very well and showed good technique on the ball, while O’Donoghue won everything in the air.  More impressive with every viewing is Defendi.  The boy from Brazil has a clam authority that exudes confidence, even though some of his passing around his own area causes Clive Allen to have palpitations !!

From a free-kick, Hogg went a foot wide of the right post and then from another Collins flew in to meet it with his head, which was in turn met with Nicky Eyre’s fist !!  Their best chance came when they worked the ball down the left wing and a low ball into the area was missed by Knights and McKie cleared from in front of the goal.

The second half was a much more sedate affair, although the visitors had the bulk of the possession.  Defendi glanced a free-kick narrowly wide from a 53rd minute free-kick, when he should have done better and Barcham brought saves from the Ipswich keeper a couple of times.

For all their attacking, the Championship side’s reserves lacked the cutting edge to threaten the goal seriously and only Counago’s drive, which was palmed away by Eyre – the shot being at a nice height for the save – might have been good enough to go in.

So, another win and Clive even had the relative luxury of not getting over-excited at the ref !!  A good all round performance with everyone playing their part with special mention for the lightning quick feet of Mark Yeates and the energy and drive of Mark Hughes, who bring different attributes to the midfield, but complement each other and having played together through the ranks, they have developed a fine understanding.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : –  Rodrigo Defendi.

Marco van Hip

• Spotted at the game : –
  Martin Jol
  Hans Segers
  Dominique Cuperley
  Pat Holland
  John Alexander (Club Secretary)
  Pat Jennings
  Alan Pardew
  Joe Royle
  Mike Newell
  Brian Talbot